Hematomas

STEVE: A hematoma is a subcutaneous bruise that tends to collect or
pool a lot of fluid in one area and becomes very, very soft
and fluctuant. What has happened is you get subcutaneous
hemorrhage that basically collects and pools in one area
and it creates a big baggy local area. Hematoma can
underneath the skin from an injection, but it is usually
more commonly due to an area that’s been traumatized and
creates a lot of subcutaneous hemorrhage.

ALEX: But isn’t hematoma after-care is kind of important because if you
don’t get the swelling out of that hematoma it can cause
problems later on?

STEVE: It can become a sterile abscess and then you may have to drain
it. A lot of times you may have to drain it anyway.
Hematoma can occur anywhere, it can occur all over large
muscle groups and typically after a while they become
gravity-dependent and they will move down toward the lower
limb and basically you end up having a big limb. Eventually
the body will absorb it or if it doesn’t then you’ll have
to lance it and drain it.